Photo: WBZ NewsRadio \ James Rojas
SOMERVILLE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The MBTA said the Somerville Community Path extension is set to be completed by November, but some residents are asking if it could be expedited while the Orange Line month-long shutdown is in place.
The Somerville Community Path stretches from Davis Square to Winter Hill. When the remaining path is complete, it will connect all the way to the Inner Belt District in Somerville. The extension of the path has been under construction for years, as its completion was impacted by the pandemic.
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The combination of the Orange Line shutdown and the partial Green Line shutdown have made it difficult for Somerville residents to get around, causing some residents to wonder if the MBTA can rush the project.
"I think opening it up as soon as possible would definitely be the thing to do, like any other options right now with the Orange Line shutdown I feel like are needed," one resident told WBZ's James Rojas.
The MBTA said the path still needs work to be done including adding safety railings, lighting, final surfacing, and other addressing other various safety concerns. Instead, they are focused on crews working on opening the Medford branch of the Green Line extension.
The Green Line Extension will expand Green Line service past Lechmere to Union Square in Somerville and College Avenue in Medford. When the extension is complete, it is expected to increase ridership of more than 50,000 passenger trips a day, according to the MBTA.
The Union Square branch was completed in March. The Medford branch will include six new Green Line stations and is expected to open in late November.
One Somerville resident agreed with the MBTA needing to complete safety measures before opening, "They need to do that, they need to get at least a month of testing," telling residents to be patient.
WBZ's James Rojas (JamesRojasNews) has more:
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